"Safe" drying berths for bilge keelers, West coast

"Safe" drying berths for bilge keelers, West coast

Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2018 10:05 pm

by GTom12

I am looking for berthing ideas that would serve a bilge keel boat without killing the hull/keel stub. Could someone provide local knowledge where the ground would be considered safe for the "sensitive" Westerly keels (Fulmar, Discus, etc)? AFAIK soft mud can be quite disastrous on splayed keels...

Mostly interested in the West coast: Wales & Cornwall, e.g. around the entrances of the Menai Strait, Milford & Penzance.

Re: "Safe" drying berths for bilge keelers, West coast

Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2018 4:09 pm

by steve parry

Hi,

I would STRONGLY DISAGREE with your comment about "sensitive" Westerly Keels, I would say that 95% of all classes of boats made by Westerly Marine with bilge keels have no problems whatsoever. Yes some boats have problems and this may be due to groundings, rough handling etc. There are a few that had problems with keels from build but these are very few and far between!

If you are that concerned about bilge keel boats built by Westerly may I suggest (politely) look elsewhere for a bilge keeled boat that fits your exacting specification. Sorry that this may seem blunt but the comment you have made, got right up my nose!!!

Regards

Steve Parry - WALKABOUT (YES it is a bilge keeler)

Re: "Safe" drying berths for bilge keelers, West coast

Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2018 9:50 pm

by GTom12

Your comment is relieving Steve, it seems I am over-worrying the topic a bit:D

No personal experience, just found some references that deep soft mud creates strong lateral forces on bilge keels and early designs had to be strengthened to cope with it. Might be specific cases with extremly "sticky" mud, just want to avoid places where these kind of accidents happened. Someone even measured the effect when lift a boat from the mud with a crane: http://www.westerly-owners.co.uk/woafor ... .php?t=315

Otherwise I am sold on the bilge keel design, I want to provide the best care the boat can get.